Class Lesson September 20, 2015

Life is tough. But you can stand strong.

God never promised this life would be free from trouble, but He did promise to walk with us every step of the way. With God on our side, we can stand strong.


Building Your Life On God's Promises


Lesson titles:

1.   God's Promise of Faithfulness
2.   God's Promise of Eternal Life
3.   God's Promise of Provision
4.   God's Promise of Answered Prayer
5.   God's Promise of Victory
6.   God's Promise of a New Home

When We Face Stormy Weather

Someone asked a woman on a ship if she liked storms at sea. She said, "No--I don't like storms at sea--but I do like having moved through storms at sea." From time to time most of us have to deal with stormy weather. None of us are immune. I’m talking about old age, bad lab reports, broken relationships, failures, depression, fear and whole lot of other things – those kinds of storms.

How do we move through our storms? Well, our culture teaches us to fix our problems and if we can’t - at least learn better techniques, or use more technology – just control it.

Guess what? There are many things that we just can’t control. Our culture has little to say about these storms. Look at the people in California who have lost their houses in the recent fire. Hundreds of homes have burned to the ground. I just read where a man in Pickens, SC just shot a retired coach and one of his friends as they walked down the street. A good friend of ours has a disease that nobody seems to understand – he’s going through a frightening time. We are told that we can manage about everything. Remember the old saying: "There's nothing that me and God together can't handle." Tell that to the grievers, those who have lost houses or jobs or don't know what to do with the unending bills they can’t pay - Stormy Weather. And sometimes we’re told to just: "walk through the storm with our heads held high," well, that doesn’t help does it.

The Apostle Paul, a veteran of more storms that he could even remember said: "We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."If you read a little further he tells them what he has said over and over: "We do not lose heart." And then he gives the secret--but not a fix--"We look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

We are not storm chasers but we can be storm facers and Stand Strong: with God’s Promise of Eternal Life.

God's Promise of Eternal Life

What products or activities promise
to increase our lifespan?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

 
In the past century, people in America have seen their life expectancy increase by more than 25 years. Americans are living well into their 70s and 80s these days. And based on the volume of ads and infomercials on TV, companies are lined up to sell you products or programs claiming to increase that lifespan even more.

To be sure, some of the advice and products being offered are good and can improve our lives—to some degree. But a lot of what we see is nothing more than a way for companies to make a quick buck from our yearning to live longer and look better.

After all, life has to end. We can’t go on living forever—can we?

The truth is we can have a life that continues on forever. That’s not a claim based on wishful optimism, but a reality founded on who Jesus is and what He has done. The short Book of 1 John points us to this sure hope of eternal life.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

1 John 5:6-13 (ESV)

6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

 
7 For there are three that testify:

 
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

 
9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that He has borne concerning His Son.

 
10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son.

 
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

 
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Water (vv. 6,8)—John used “water” as a reference to the baptism of Jesus Christ, which marked the beginning of His public ministry.

Blood (vv. 6,8)—John used “blood” as a reference to Jesus dying on the cross, which marked the close of His public ministry.

With chapter 5 of his short letter, John shifted his emphasis from love and obedience to the importance of believing in Jesus Christ. Believing is having whole-hearted trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ. Contrary to false teachers who claimed Jesus was a mere man, John outlined specifically who Jesus is as the Son of God. Only those who believe Jesus is the Son of God have the promise of eternal life.


I. JESUS IS GOD'S SON



1 John 5:6-9


Christ-followers can have absolute assurance of their salvation. Having confidence requires an absolute truth in which we can believe and trust absolutely. The apostle John wrote verses 6-9 so that we can believe in something that is true—something that will never change no matter the circumstance. That something is the hope found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In John’s time, some were spreading a false teaching that denied the full humanity and deity of Jesus. The premise was that God came upon the man Jesus after His baptism but left Him before the crucifixion. In other words, the divine Christ only indwelt the human Jesus during His three years of ministry.

John identified three realities that attest to who Jesus is:

• The water. John’s phrase “the water” refers to Jesus’ baptism, which was an event John probably had the privilege of seeing (see Matt. 3:13-17; John 1:31-37). At Jesus’ baptism, a dove descended and landed on His shoulder as He rose from the water. John may have heard the voice of God proclaim: “And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matt. 3:17). Jesus always was—and is—God’s Son. “The water” refers to the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

• The blood. “The blood” refers to Jesus’ crucifixion, the end of His ministry on earth. John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ death (see John 19:26-27). He could personally testify how these events—Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection—point to the truth Jesus Christ is God’s Son.

• The Spirit. An even greater testimony to the truth Jesus is God’s Son is the testimony of God Himself. God’s Holy Spirit spoke through His prophets and through His Word, the Bible, to declare the truth about His Son. Jesus Himself told His disciples, “But when the Helper comes … the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me” (John 15:26).

God wants us to know with total assurance and confidence who Jesus is. God wants us to know that Jesus is the answer to every situation we face in life.

How and when did you come to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? How did that decision change your life?

II. LIFE IS FOUND IN JESUS

1 John 5:10-11

 
The truth about Jesus isn’t just some cold, hard fact. When we accept who Jesus is and trust in His saving work on the cross, He places that testimony within our hearts. “Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son” (v. 10).

The presence of that testimony—the internal presence of God’s Spirit—moves beyond simply a mental understanding and awareness of the truth. It results in life! “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (v. 11). The apostle Paul affirmed this truth: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11).

The world wrongly believes that money, fame, and power will bring meaning and purpose to life—or will at least temporarily fill the void in our hearts. But we find hope only by recognizing Jesus as God’s Son who willingly gave His life for us. That recognition leads to eternal life.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples what He was about to do and where He would be going. But Thomas didn’t understand the path Jesus was laying out for them. He asked, “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Although Thomas knew Jesus, he assumed he needed something more.

People today make the same mistake. They question whether Jesus is enough. Or they think the answer to eternal fulfillment is Jesus plus something else. What was Jesus’ response? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14: 6). John, who heard Jesus declare this truth to Thomas, reiterated it in 1 John 5:11: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” Jesus is our life!

What does the promise of eternal life mean to you? What assures you that even now you are living eternal life?

III. WE EXPERIENCE LIFE WHEN WE BELIEVE IN JESUS

 1 John 5:12-13

 
How do we gain access to eternal life? The answer is wonderfully simple: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (v. 12). If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your life, you have life—eternal life.

Yet people continue to look elsewhere. We seek the fountain of youth—maybe not through a quest like Ponce de Leon, but certainly through science, medicine, and technology. Our culture is determined to find eternal life without the “burden” of trusting and following God.

But we don’t need a quest! Just trust. Jesus has done everything necessary to make eternal life possible for us. All we have to do is let go and embrace Him. Yes, we give up doing things our way, but we gain so much more. The eternal life found in Christ doesn’t just refer to life that goes on forever; eternal life speaks to the quality of life as well. It’s a life far beyond what we can ask or imagine.

Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” There’s our answer: Believe in Jesus. Believe He is Lord. Believe He is God’s Son. Believe He died and rose again. Confess Him as Lord.

You will be saved.

How would you explain that eternal life is possible only through Jesus Christ?

We live in a world of many religions, most all of which have as their goal the promise of a good life in the hereafter. Christianity declares God's promise of eternal life is available only to those who believe in Jesus Christ. Some people respond angrily to such an exclusive claim. Yet the verses from First John in this lesson are clear that life is only in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.


Our Lesson Outline:

 God's Promise of Eternal Life

Life is tough. But you can stand strong.

God never promised this life would be free from trouble, but He did promise to walk with us every step of the way. With God on our side, we can stand strong.

Growing Old Gracefully

  

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Our lesson’s point this morning is that: “You were created for eternal life in Christ.”



I. JESUS IS GOD'S SON - 1 John 5:6-9

6 Jesus Christ—He is the One who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. 9 If we accept the testimony of men, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that He has given about His Son.



What do these verses teach us about Jesus?

• didn’t come by water only
• came by water and blood

What do you think John meant in v.6 when he said Jesus came "by water and blood?"

• physical birth?
• baptism
• came to die, to shed His blood

Note: Gnosticism (a group folks who claimed to have “special knowledge”) taught that the Spirit of the Christ descended on Jesus at His baptism and left just before His death. But saying that the water and blood testify about Christ could be a way of saying that Jesus was divine His entire life and ministry beginning to end



What three things are in agreement? (5:7-8)

• The Spirit
• Jesus’ baptism
• Jesus shed blood, His death

How does each testify to Truth?

• God’s Spirit testifies to or reveals to us Truth about God, about Jesus
• His baptism was evidence or confirmation of His divinity
• His crucifixion and resurrection was the culmination of His ministry here on earth … redeeming us from sin’s penalty and power
• Christ’s resurrection from death is proof, testimony to the Truth of Who Jesus is and what He claimed

II. LIFE IS FOUND IN JESUS - 1 John 5:10-11

10 (The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.) 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.


What does v. 10 say about those who believe?

• the believer is given a “testimony in his heart”
• we are given both an intellectual and emotional assurance
• God gives a peace and renewing to us
• we are relieved of our guilt, it is “lifted” from us 

Who has made God out to be a liar? (5:10)

• the person who does not believe in the Son of God
• he has not believed what God has said
• such a person rejects God’s Truth and considers what God says to be false 

What has God given to those who believe?

• eternal life
• eternal union with God
• contrasted with eternal separation from God
• we are united with God now and throughout eternity
• we are united with the Son of God – we have His spiritual presence within our hearts and minds right now … and forever 

What does it mean to believe in the testimony of Jesus?

• I accept what God says as Truth for me
• I come to the full understanding of my sinful condition
• I receive by faith the Truth that Jesus died in my place
• Jesus taught this, I accept what He says personally for me

Why is it sometimes hard for people to believe faith in Jesus is enough for salvation?

• they have the mindset of working for something
• we live our lives earning a living
• even when receive gifts at birthday or Christmas it is from those who “owe us” because of some sort of relationship
• God doesn’t owe us anything … He wants to bless us with eternal life

III. WE EXPERIENCE LIFE WHEN WE BELIEVE IN JESUS - 1 John 5:12-13
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 



Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” There’s our answer: Believe in Jesus. Believe He is Lord. Believe He is God’s Son. Believe He died and rose again. Confess Him as Lord.

You will be saved.



Why did John write this letter?

• wrote to those who believe in the name (authority) of the Son of God
• wrote to declare the possibility of eternal life
• wrote to explain, assure believers of their eternal union with God

What do we have if we have Christ in us?

• if you have the Son, you have life … union with God
• if you do not have the Son, you do not have life … you do not have union with God
• physical death is more than cessation of vital signs, it is the separation of the soul from the body
• spiritual death is separation of our soul from God
• spiritual life is the union of our soul with God … now and forever

How would describe the life one has through Jesus?

• we are no longer condemned to death for our sinful existence
• we are no longer guilty of sin … Christ’s death and resurrection has justified us … made us “just as if” we had never sinned
• we are at peace with God, we are no longer enemies with God because of our sin

How does this life contrast with the life a non-believer has?

• the unbeliever stands condemned for his sinful condition, he/she is on “death row”
• such a person is an enemy with God … who cannot tolerate the existence of sin
• no Jesus, no peace … know Jesus, know peace

How does having eternal life affect your life now?

• eternal life is union with God … now and through eternity
• contrast with spiritual death … separation from God
• I belong to God … He belongs to me
• He can guide my thoughts, actions, decisions
• He empowers us for service, ministry
• He convinces/convicts us of the Truth in God’s Word
• Knowing that there is a life after death, means that our lives now are infinitely more important.
• What we do now can have an impact on others’ eternal destiny.

Eternal life describes much more than going to heaven when we die. Too many people equate eternal life only with life after death. The concept includes the life believers have not only in heaven, but now in this world in their ongoing, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.




What questions do you have about Eternal Life?




LIVE IT OUT

You were created for eternal life in Christ. So how will that truth influence your actions and attitudes this week? Consider the following suggestions:



Accept Jesus. If you’ve never accepted the gift of eternal life in Jesus, do so now. Talk to someone in your group or read the inside front cover to discover what’s involved in becoming a follower of Jesus.



Live for Jesus. Be intentional about considering how eternal life in Christ affects your attitude and approach to the different hassles and routines you face each day—paying bills, juggling your schedule, dealing with difficult people, and so on. Let the eternal nature of your relationship with Christ impact everything else.



Share Jesus. You know others who are looking for meaning and purpose in places other than Jesus. Tell your story and point them to the life they can have in Christ.



It’s natural to long for everlasting life. After all, you were created for an eternal life expectancy. Yet no product, gimmick, or health regime can produce in you what only Jesus can give.


So embrace Jesus. Embrace life.





Prayer of Commitment

Lord, I profess Jesus is the Son of God and I claim the wonderful promise of eternal life that comes to everyone who believes in Him. Amen.


Hope to see you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan